Where do "Jobs" come from? Who is your "Boss?" Imagine this: you have a public high school education. You (and a dozen others) work for a guy who runs a small manufacturing company. You and your mates make a decent living along with medical and retirement benefits, you're able to support your family, raise your kids, pay your taxes, contribute to your church and the United Way. You've even bought a small fishing boat for weekends. Life is good; you've got everything you ever wanted.
Your Boss is doing pretty well, too. He started small, just himself and a partner. Working long, hard hours to find business opportunities, he built his business up from nothing. Adding employees as he was able to find more business, building new facilities when space was needed, his manufacturing company has become one of the places in town where people aspire to work. Your boss, like you, is living the good life.
But then, here comes a downturn in the economy. People are no longer buying whatever it is you make at your boss's company. Times are tough with business slow, but your boss does what he can to make sure you still have a job. Although you get your hours cut back, you are still employed. Your boss, however, is working even longer hours than before, and he's cut back on his own salary so he can continue to pay your wages. He's trying to scrounge up contracts to keep you employed. The company profits are off, but the pressure doesn't let up on the boss.
So what happens next? Here comes the Federal Government.
"Let's raise the minimum wage." Your boss has to eliminate those summer jobs for high school students, because he can't afford to pay what the government dictates.
"Make it easier for the unions to organize by eliminating the secret ballot." Your boss knows that if his workers decide to organize, there will be pressure for higher wages, more benefits, and it will lead to lower productivity. Do you, the worker, understand that, or do you listen to the voices of organized labor?
"We'll increase taxes on the wealthy." But all of a sudden, your boss is listed among the wealthy. Because he owns a business, the government comes after him. Higher taxes on his business means he has to charge more for the products he (and you) makes and sells. Contracts dry up and wither away, there is less demand for the product. Soon the business won't sustain the boss and his thirteen workers. Layoffs are required; before long you are the low man on the totem pole, and will be the next one let go if the economy gets worse.
"We'll reduce the deduction for charitable contributions." Wait a minute. As a tithing churchgoer, this one is hitting you, too.
Those in Government often forget where the money they dispense so freely comes from. It's easy for them to stir up class envy, and they buy more votes for themselves by promising to take from the rich and give to the poor. But in the end, they merely wind up killing the Goose that laid the Golden Eggs. Would that they, and their greedy, resentful voters, would learn the lesson before we all sink into the abyss. How long will it take before they've extracted every bit of money from those of us who earn it?
Oh, yeah -- that last item about charitable contributions? It's interesting to see the difference between Conservative and Liberal politicians when it comes to giving away their own money. Read Ann Coulter's article about the personal generosity of the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue vs. the previous occupant. Then get and read Arthur Brooks' book titled Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth about Compassionate Conservatism.
No comments:
Post a Comment